really glad you put up an explanation video. coming from a noise background it's so much more tactile to alter parameters with knobs individually and many effects pedals sound great/better than canned effects on mixers because they can be unpredictable and creative. thanks!
Also, the Boss Slicer (with midi sync), the Digitech Synth Wah/Envelope Filter, and the newer Boss PS-6 with pitch bender. I'm a guitarist but I guarantee they'd sound rad for DJ'ing. A Boss Giga delay would be great for tap tempo capabilities. For Techno, some weirder Fuzz pedals would sound great for mangling beats, maybe a Fuzz Probe (with built in theramin plate)
Best to be careful with attenuation. I suspect the clipping of the drums wasn't from the recording but rather input level into the pedals. Not all pedals can accept such high levels without clipping. And distortion. Other than that effect pedals can be a great affordable way to add a nice hands on effect set up to your rig. Nice video
This. A beginner video about routing guitar pedals should at least briefly address the concept of instrument vs. line level signals. Guitar pedals are made for guitar (mechanically speaking, not creatively)!
I love Boss Pedals! I sell them a lot at the store I work in. I also have a Zoom CDR70 (Chorus, Delay, Reverb) that I use with my synthesizer. It's an awesome multi pedal that you can save presets on.
that was a bummer, sorry the audio is not better - the recording device was distorting on input but not in the studio so we didn't notice untill editing.
+Sleepydog you want distortion pedals then - I mostly buy these!! There's overdrive, boosters, drivers, crunch, fuzz, noise/bitcrush, harmonic saturators.. so many flavours!
Overall, in today's age, there are advanced single effect pedal units that incorporate 30-50 units, into one unit, like the Eventide H9 Max, the Boss GT-1000, Boss SY-1000, and so forth. It's much cheaper, in the long run, and gives you so many more options. I never considered pedal effects until I purchased a Pioneer DJM V10 and saw the power of soundscape processors (equivalent to send functions on the V10 or "color" effects on the DJM 900NXS-2). Just ordered the H9 Max RED.
Oh hell yeah! I'm thinking I might put some of these in my sets! But the crazy thing is I use FL for all the routing, so I can go crazy with all of these!
Thanks for making me want to spend more money -_-.. but seriously I've been wanting to experiment with effects pedals for a while. I might go about it in a slightly different way though. Awesome video as always
i did an experience with these stomp boxes and it's much easier if you just open the part you put your foot and remove the spring from it. it gets way more hand touch sensitive and you don't need to almost punch it with your palm :)
Hi Dj Tech Tools, i am a Didgeridoo player and i am looking to use Boss RC1 looper through mic input on Djm 900 to loop my Didgerioo sounds which will come out of one of the channels from djm 900 nexus, while i play techno on other two channels and third channel for my maschine..Can you tell me if this is possible? and how should i set it up?
I think this was a great article. I am a guitar pedal freak, and although I can think of many other pedals anyone could use, when you consider price, quality and user friendliness, there are few like the boss pedals. Take for example the red panda Ean is showing. Great pedal, but IMO, if you have no experience, I would avoid it. Most BOSS pedals just make it easy, and hence free you up to take it to the next level in whatever you are performing with (DJ or Guitarist) They are top quality, can take severe beatings, and sound great.
+Em Wilson I've ALWAYS wanted a boss bass synth.. I only ever saw it as a gimmick for bassists/guitarists (of which i was one) but I really liked the way I saw Beaverloop use one at Falls Festival 1997 and always wanted one.. I also saw a 'space drum' or something it was called.. it was just a synth you could trigger with drum hits, like an ancient analog v-drum. Useless but I thought so cool lol. Pitch Shifters ARE cool - you can get octave pitch pedals too so you can quickly drop down or up octaves xD
Hello! Many thanks for this video. My english is not good and I learn from just looking video. I have question. Why to use this pedal and twister instead a mixer? For example Pioneer V10?
Im stuck with a nustream pro go and pissed! I just need it to let me capture beats to jam to 🎸 and itd be cool if I could scratch, but even creating an account for effects and downloads doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t give me an option to send any of the effect to the controller. It doesn’t do anything at all. The controller does play the tracks that came with it . Is there a box I can buy that operates Internet free, with preloaded drum beats and maybe some scratch effects? Also, if all this is digital, why can’t I use one turntable just for scratching ? ( Like an instrument ) can you use the turntables as instruments? To make scratch noises separate from the tracks that are already playing?
Hey Ean, by any chance do you know what Maceo Plex uses for his sets? I wanna say he uses the DD3 or DD7 but he also has this reveber/white noise sound that accompanies it. Do you know?
isnt the xone 92 way better for send & return compared to any djm mixer? with the xone, you invididual sends per channel AND the returns have a seperate channel, with fader! seems way more complicated to do all this with one knob!!!
Yeah I was going to say. DJMs are solid mixers but aren't really used for Auxillary sends and returns because it already has built in FX. The Xone 92 has 2 Auxillary sends and returns with their own faders so it's definitely a better device for using pedals.
Awesome video, great insights in here. Ean, would this work with traditional CDJ set up, using the sends and returns? How did you feel about using the effects on tracks in mixing with Songs? Thanks
not just with boss pedals only..there are plenty of brands out there, i have some cheap behringer pedals but it can do a lot of damage and good effects.
+PAWELDUN Music I'd say look at some GOOD pedals instead of cheap ones - you're missing out xD my cheapest pedal is a guitar EQ pedal .. THAT PICKS UP THE BLOODY RADIO.
maybe it would be advisable to go for better and more expensive pedals, and using less pedals (just like 3 or 4). but again that's just a matter of a personal choice
If your DJ mixer doesn't have send and receive can the booth or master output pass through an effects pedal? For example a Behringer FX600 on an Omnitronic TRM‑202 mk3? Thanks
azden louie . . if youre not rich, maybe get the pedal efx board units (digitech 2008 ish to save money!) . . zoom 2017 is cheap! but you only get one pedal control surface-with "twenty pedals you can control separately-and "at one time"-great for studio . . the digitech-style has four or five pedals separate to control live in real time!!!! . . the boss, ehx, mxr, maxon, etc can cost about $100-$200 idh a piece!-used!
Thanks for the video! My mixer is the DJM-S9 and has no send & return inputs/outputs. How would I best connect mono guitar effects in between? Pls let me know. Thanks in advance!
Hi Ean I own a Boss rc-505 and I owned korg kp3 as well and i found them very bad for synchronizing through midi they got out of time easily i rather prefer sync them manually. If you found the way to sync them via midi make a video please...
DJTT is not a huge company. These pedals probably cost a lot of money. On the website they mention that boss sended some units for testing. You should be grateful they do these video's for DJ's and inspire us, instead of being butthurt about a brand
Hi, could I ask what are the songs you play on the two middle decks at 9.55+ ? I'm looking for this melody for months and stil couldn't find it ! Really good work, thanks for the videos
I use a Boss DD-7 in my rig but when I connect it to the send and return of the 900, when I turn on the effects button and turn up the knob, the sound gets cut completely off and I can't get any sound to come out of the speakers. What do I do wrong? Please help!
I have the DD-7 and have a question, I have 2x trs 1/4 mono from the input a +b to my xone92 aux 1 r+l. Then I have the output a+b trs 1/4 mono to left right channel 4 in my xone. Is this the best way to get good quality?, when I put the aux1 up the background track is having less volume, is it correct that when I buy another 2 trs 1/4 to trs and put the 2 outs a+b from the pedal to the return that It will have better quality or no background music volume drop when turning open the aux1?.
I love this video and am inspired to get a Boss delay pedal and reverb pedal to link up to the send and return on my Ecler. Just one question - with the daisy chaining off them, does the signal still pass through even if the pedal isn't engaged? So, say I have my reverb after the delay, can I add some reverb without adding delay? Thanks
So what would happen if I ran one of the mono pedals into one of my main deck channels playing a stereo track? want to use the compressor but i don't use any mono sounds like remix decks.
+MATT UK (MattuK) get a stereo compressor, preferably line level, an actual studio compressor, not a guitar (or bass) one. Mono is mono - you will lose all stereo stuff, so 'left' 'right' samples or anything that you want to 'move' across the field in stereo is going to get lost. Now, if it was JUSt a bass kick and bassline playing, it would sound fine, since most of the bass sounds are mono. But as soon as you play anything stereo, it will be summed to dual mono / mono. Now, if you have say a record of two guitarists, one on the left and one of the right, they will be playing together on both speakers, and it may lead to clipping/saturation. Bad compression sounds horrible. Almost ALL the music made today is OVER COMPRESSED for the loudness wars already, so adding more is kind of cruddy. One thing people do use compressors for often is for their mix recording OUTPUT - the master out for the club, or for fixing up your mix after recording to make it more uniform level. Traktor has compressor/limiter WITHIN the software too, so this guy is running compressed music into a compressor on either each channel or the master output of traktor (potentially, you can turn it off), running into mixer, running into another compressor to further compress the sounds.. now, in a full mix recording, to run a LIGHT, decently done compressor over it (or in a club live on the master output) MAY make things sound louder/fuller more evenly. BUT, you are losing dynamics - breakdowns will sounds as loud as your drops. DYNAMICS are good people!! Loud vs soft!! Mogwai made a career off it. Classical music USES dyamics properly - there are SUPER quiet bits and SUPER loud bits. If everything's compressed it just becomes the same. Personally I prefer good gain structure while mixing and just normalise sections as required manually, if needed.. I'm always working to make my mixes sound as good as possible WITHOUT normalising or compressing after mixing and I think this ends up sounding better than if I just try to lean on software or hardware compressors during playback or after recording. A bit of compression somewhere can be really nice though and especially if you know how to use it and are a producer who doesn't already used it way too much to make a track and are now compressing that even more for your 'performance' of it in a DJ set... my 2 cents anyway. I should probably clarify, you are going to need to convert your cable from guitar pedal (or preamp/DI output if you do gain structure right and convert from guitar Hi-Z to line level for the input on your mixer) to mixer anyway (usually RCA if you are not using a send return channel and want to use a 'main' channel). SO you need a mono (TS jack guitar cable) connector on one end, that splits into two mono RCA (usual RCAs), so again your sound will be 'dual mono' instead of stereo. You'll get two channels, but not two DIFFERENT channels, so your speakers will both play exactly the same thing. The cable you'd need to run into an RCA input on a 'main' channel on a DJ mixer would be a guitar (TS) mono jack one end of the cable and two RCAs on the other end. If you had a 'stereo' effect, the cable would depend on whether the output was 2x TS outputs (like a 'stereo' guitar effect) or 1x or 2x TRS or XLR outputs (like a 'line level' professional/rack mount/DJ effects unit). If you have a guitar pedal with two TS (mono) outputs, you'd need a 2x TS to 2x RCA male cable. If you had 1x XLR or TRS output, you'd need to get a TRS or XLR to dual RCA male cable, if you had 2x XLR or TRS, you'd want a 2x XLR or TRS to dual RCA male cable.
ya, ehx or digitech or someone else-that has multi-pedals on one beard . . instead of one at a time! . . if you need more sounds-and you can afford it! . . get two or three used pedal efx boards to use at the same time!
Shweet shtuff how do u get a clean mix with out the really loud guitar pedal noise hum I'm getting (multiplied x 4 because I want 1 pedal/each 4 Channels)? Danka !
+ifya do so you are running say, a CDJ or other audio source into a pedal then into the mixer? the reason is because RCA 'consumer line' output of a CDJ, tape deck (or phono RCA of a turntable) is VERY LOW, it's like plugging a guitar into a speaker WITHOUT an amplifier. So your mixer PREAMPS on the inputs of the channels is pushing the level up from 'consumer line' (which is actually now converted to even weaker, I believe, 'hi-z' guitar level on the effect output) to 'proper' line (which is the loudest type of line). So you are *preamping* the very low signal from the effect, which has already been made worse converting from consumer line to hi-z. I'm not sure the answer to this, but the proper way to do it is to have a mixer with 8 channels and 4 aux sends, so you can send and return 4 channels through 4 different pedals. But better still is to figure out exactly WHY you want to put effects on those four INPUTS. Why not have something like a Xone 92, which will take any of four channels, and send it back into one or two other channels? You could just turn the volume down on the SENDING channels and keep the RETURN channels raised, so as long as the mixer 'pre' sends (ie, before the channel fader level takes effect) you will have the music coming through the return channels, while the sending channels cannot be heard (except through the returns). The best way to deal with a single output is to get a loop feedbacker, which is basically however many effects sends as you like, off the one source and ending up with only one output returning back. You can have one of these for each return channel on a send/return, or have them on the MASTER OUTPUT of the mixer if you want the effects to only work on the MASTER / summed output, as opposed to individual channels. Absolute easiest way to do it to is to use a laptop - have the sounds playing from the laptop (you could use Traktor, Serato or Ableton for 4 channels if have decent sound card/DVS card), each with software effects internally in the program (Ableton or other sequencer or something like Torq would do this easily - apart from potential stability issues with Torq), then running from the sound card output into your mixer/system (you dont really need a mixer if you are using controller or keyboard to control things inside the computer instead of with hardware). This sounds like what you want to do, but with hardware. Which in order to do properly, you'd need to convert the sound source level to guitar level first, then run it into guitar effect, then convert guitar effect to line level (personally, I use a guitar DI to get from guitar to mic level, then a mic preamp to get from mic to line to go back to mixer). Now, if none of that works (or really, you should try this first), you just need a) a better power supply for your guitar pedal (even Boss official vs generic 9v wall wart will make a difference, I have a Cioks Ciokolate but that is total overkill for one pedal - to test, try a battery instead of power supply, it should be clean with battery, if you have a bodgy power supply you will tell this way), a better cable (poor quality cable *may* give you some issues), a better guitar effect (some effects are just *noisy*), before trying another effect, you may want to try a ground isolator - I have an ART DTI for line level and another for guitar level, if you have a guitar effect that IS noisy and need to deal with it (a common issue with more than one pedal chained) you need something like the Boss Noise Supressor and/or an ISP Decimator/G-String to reduce the inherent noise of the pedals, if you have your cables crossed that can cause noise (power and audio sitting together) so try separating, lastly, if you want more options, there are noise gates, which will cut off all sound after things go to a certain quiet level (ie, when playing music the gate opens, when it stops and there is just a quieter noise left, it closes and stops all sound - ALL sound though, not great if doing quiet bits) as well as loop feedbackers, which are like an AB/Y splitter but multiplied - they basically just give you a button to press for effect loops, so when you are playing clean, instead of having to turn all the effects off manually, you just click a button and it goes back to 'clean' signal (no effects). Also with these you can get any size you want basically, so you can have 2, 3, 4 or more different effects loops to put pedals on to choose from / switch between, so you can have many options and ways to use the same pedal in different orders or with different settings, without having to change stuff on one pedal. There are many causes of noise in analog audio so it can be a bit of a process. I think trying to run a CD discman into a guitar pedal was probably what set me on this long journey almost two decades ago :)
I have a Boss DD-3 connected to a Pioneer DJM - 900NXS. Send from DJM going to Input on DD-3 (in Mono). Return into DJM from Output on DD - 3. The DD - 3 won't power up. When i reverse the signal path (input / output etc.) it powers up but obviously theres no signal. Can't get it to work. Can anyone help with setup????
+Francois Benner old video, would have sold em by now.. I am inspired by that though and sad they didn't get a test on the video. It really makes sense if you aren't stepping on them.. I hate how the foot switches get 'gunked up' or 'sticky'/hard to push sometimes too.
I'm no expert, but isn't he running low impedance signals from the mixer into pedals that require high impedance input? He should be using a converter, no?
Did I see an Arcade Button Mod on those TC Helicon lookin Pedals?? that would improve my looper pedal situation since i use my fingers to engage it.. any suggestions?
Man, I play guitar and bass and I have some effect pedals. Ihave got too a S4 and I tried to connect the pedals to the output of the s4, and then connect them to my soundcard and the speakers and it works.
Boss was kind enough to send us pedals to test so we didn't have to spend thousands of dollars on this project but they didn't sponsor us in anyway. As mentioned in the article: "We recognize that there are hundreds of guitar FX pedals in the world, and many companies (small and large) that provide excellent products. In the coming months, we intend to explore other brands and models, but Ean chose to focus primarily on Boss for this early research since they are prevalent, affordable, and provide a wide range of high-quality options."
Hi, I use the DD-7 in my dj sets and I love it. I find that I have to take the lows completely out on the channel levels before I use it though as the kick drums and basslines come through quite muffled and distorted. Is there any way around this? Loving the Echo Delay & Reverb too I may have to invest. Cheers
Sadly I'm not Ean ( but who is :-D ) I noticed the hub as well. I'd wager that it is a basic USB2 hub hanging off a USB3 port on the MacBook. While not the ideal setup, USB3 ports are required to provide significantly more power than USB2 ports in addition to having vastly more bandwidth. Thus it is much less of a bad idea than connecting the same to an older USB2 port. You don't benefit from the increased bandwidth, but the extra power is what matters in this situation. (Geek Alert) I just checked the stats on my MBP and it reports up to 500 mA available per USB device. However, connect an iPad ( or probably one of several other Apple gadgets, and it reports using the full 500 mA PLUS a whopping 1.6 A on top. ( 1600 mA ) If Apple ( or a crafty third party ) made a hub that would activate this level of draw and passed it to the ports... who needs external power..? Before you thumbs down this overlong reply, I know these number don't match the official USB3 specs, but Apple has liked bending the rules for years. ---Woah, that was a lot. Sorry about that. Great video as always. Any thoughts on doing one that includes the loop station? I'd love to see how it does when clock synced.
Tim Tucker That was really geeky) Thank you for such an informative comment! It is said on official NI Website that X1 and F1 take up to 500 mA. And it really worries me since I use 2 X1s and an F1 on a single USB3 of my MB Air with a powered hub. I know that (officially) USB3 provides 900 mA of power. I would have never thought that Apple modifies their USBs as well. I'll check whether or not what you have written works for me. It is very inconvenient to search for a power outlet wherever I set up but I am very afraid to burn the whole machine XD So I'll stick to using my powered hub until I make sure my laptop can handle this stuff.
A USB 2.0 hub can handle 3 basic controllers just fine (but never share a audio card on the same port) - I easily run 2 X1's and a Midi fighter off one $10 un-powered hub. Ean
great way to add some humanity and improvisatory elements for tactile musicians in an electronic world.
I hope more people use these, I'm sick of the standard Pioneer FX every 20 secs in every mix nowadays
how anyone can complain about this info becuase of the sound... jeeez, this video is gold dude! thank you
because this is a video about sound
really glad you put up an explanation video. coming from a noise background it's so much more tactile to alter parameters with knobs individually and many effects pedals sound great/better than canned effects on mixers because they can be unpredictable and creative. thanks!
Also, the Boss Slicer (with midi sync), the Digitech Synth Wah/Envelope Filter, and the newer Boss PS-6 with pitch bender. I'm a guitarist but I guarantee they'd sound rad for DJ'ing. A Boss Giga delay would be great for tap tempo capabilities.
For Techno, some weirder Fuzz pedals would sound great for mangling beats, maybe a Fuzz Probe (with built in theramin plate)
This is one of my favourite DJ vids
Come back regular
👍
Best to be careful with attenuation. I suspect the clipping of the drums wasn't from the recording but rather input level into the pedals. Not all pedals can accept such high levels without clipping. And distortion. Other than that effect pedals can be a great affordable way to add a nice hands on effect set up to your rig. Nice video
This. A beginner video about routing guitar pedals should at least briefly address the concept of instrument vs. line level signals. Guitar pedals are made for guitar (mechanically speaking, not creatively)!
All chanels are on red haha
So yes it was the input signal
I love Boss Pedals! I sell them a lot at the store I work in. I also have a Zoom CDR70 (Chorus, Delay, Reverb) that I use with my synthesizer. It's an awesome multi pedal that you can save presets on.
Would have sounded loads better if the drums weren't clipping every time they hit.
that was a bummer, sorry the audio is not better - the recording device was distorting on input but not in the studio so we didn't notice untill editing.
DJ TechTools
Heh... i thought it sounded cool ;)
+Sleepydog you want distortion pedals then - I mostly buy these!! There's overdrive, boosters, drivers, crunch, fuzz, noise/bitcrush, harmonic saturators.. so many flavours!
Really? the mixer clips leds is all the time in red (min 4:31)
indeed - not one of his better videos was it, most of it all sounded trash.
Overall, in today's age, there are advanced single effect pedal units that incorporate 30-50 units, into one unit, like the Eventide H9 Max, the Boss GT-1000, Boss SY-1000, and so forth. It's much cheaper, in the long run, and gives you so many more options. I never considered pedal effects until I purchased a Pioneer DJM V10 and saw the power of soundscape processors (equivalent to send functions on the V10 or "color" effects on the DJM 900NXS-2). Just ordered the H9 Max RED.
The audio when you played the tracks was super distorted..
nobody does this like locodice HES THE KING!
richie hawtin deelay
maceo plex does it best. Locodice uses a lot of traktor effects as well as hawtin
kyle johnson Barem
Oh hell yeah! I'm thinking I might put some of these in my sets! But the crazy thing is I use FL for all the routing, so I can go crazy with all of these!
Check out the M9 from Line6. Stereo I/O, 2 expression inputs, Midi controllable, plus a ton if other features that a DJ could use like this.
Thanks for making me want to spend more money -_-.. but seriously I've been wanting to experiment with effects pedals for a while. I might go about it in a slightly different way though. Awesome video as always
After 10min playing arround, club will be empty ;)
i did an experience with these stomp boxes and it's much easier if you just open the part you put your foot and remove the spring from it. it gets way more hand touch sensitive and you don't need to almost punch it with your palm :)
+Rodrigo Oliveira oh yeah, it's like if you don't screw in the pedal foot switch on the boss, with no battery in, it's very slidy
That little groove at the end was mega sick 🤘🏻
Hi Dj Tech Tools, i am a Didgeridoo player and i am looking to use Boss RC1 looper through mic input on Djm 900 to loop my Didgerioo sounds which will come out of one of the channels from djm 900 nexus, while i play techno on other two channels and third channel for my maschine..Can you tell me if this is possible? and how should i set it up?
Why is the mix so distorted? whyyyy? look at the levels of the mixer...
bro were you even paying attention to him? hahaha
okay maybe you were joking and Im a little dumb
well I think I'm a little dumb any of the ways
Dude this answered 100 million questions i had.
I think this was a great article. I am a guitar pedal freak, and although I can think of many other pedals anyone could use, when you consider price, quality and user friendliness, there are few like the boss pedals. Take for example the red panda Ean is showing. Great pedal, but IMO, if you have no experience, I would avoid it. Most BOSS pedals just make it easy, and hence free you up to take it to the next level in whatever you are performing with (DJ or Guitarist) They are top quality, can take severe beatings, and sound great.
I really love this video. I must rewatch it at least 3 times a year I think. Love u guys!
excellent video I've been looking into getting a few fx pedals for a while without knowing what to buy cheers
Some pedals I use for dawless music making would work here as well. All of them are stereo, and accept line signal
Nice stuff with the SYB and Pitch Shifter!
+Em Wilson I've ALWAYS wanted a boss bass synth.. I only ever saw it as a gimmick for bassists/guitarists (of which i was one) but I really liked the way I saw Beaverloop use one at Falls Festival 1997 and always wanted one.. I also saw a 'space drum' or something it was called.. it was just a synth you could trigger with drum hits, like an ancient analog v-drum. Useless but I thought so cool lol. Pitch Shifters ARE cool - you can get octave pitch pedals too so you can quickly drop down or up octaves xD
Hello! Many thanks for this video. My english is not good and I learn from just looking video. I have question. Why to use this pedal and twister instead a mixer? For example Pioneer V10?
I have xone 23 C that hAs ext fix hook up how can I use guitar pedal with it. Other than gutiar pedal what do I need
Lmk what u did i just ordered mine
i think what he is trying to say is buy a multi fx if you like fx, but in a roundabout way. (BOSS VF-1 allows ordering of fx for example)
unless boss have sent you a load of pedals, in which case make a video just like this
how the heck is it all connected
Im stuck with a nustream pro go and pissed!
I just need it to let me capture beats to jam to 🎸 and itd be cool if I could scratch, but even creating an account for effects and downloads doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t give me an option to send any of the effect to the controller. It doesn’t do anything at all.
The controller does play the tracks that came with it .
Is there a box I can buy that operates Internet free, with preloaded drum beats and maybe some scratch effects?
Also, if all this is digital, why can’t I use one turntable just for scratching ?
( Like an instrument ) can you use the turntables as instruments? To make scratch noises separate from the tracks that are already playing?
Thanks for the vid. Check out how I use an EHX Memory Boy in my live setup
Hey Ean, by any chance do you know what Maceo Plex uses for his sets? I wanna say he uses the DD3 or DD7 but he also has this reveber/white noise sound that accompanies it. Do you know?
and would love to see a laptop with some crazy plugins beeing used as an external effects processor... well would love to know how that is set up...
isnt the xone 92 way better for send & return compared to any djm mixer? with the xone, you invididual sends per channel AND the returns have a seperate channel, with fader! seems way more complicated to do all this with one knob!!!
Yeah I was going to say. DJMs are solid mixers but aren't really used for Auxillary sends and returns because it already has built in FX. The Xone 92 has 2 Auxillary sends and returns with their own faders so it's definitely a better device for using pedals.
Omg whats up with the clipping (distortion) :((
Awesome video, great insights in here. Ean, would this work with traditional CDJ set up, using the sends and returns? How did you feel about using the effects on tracks in mixing with Songs? Thanks
not just with boss pedals only..there are plenty of brands out there, i have some cheap behringer pedals but it can do a lot of damage and good effects.
+PAWELDUN Music I'd say look at some GOOD pedals instead of cheap ones - you're missing out xD my cheapest pedal is a guitar EQ pedal .. THAT PICKS UP THE BLOODY RADIO.
"it gets super sideways"
maybe it would be advisable to go for better and more expensive pedals, and using less pedals (just like 3 or 4). but again that's just a matter of a personal choice
If your DJ mixer doesn't have send and receive can the booth or master output pass through an effects pedal? For example a Behringer FX600 on an Omnitronic TRM‑202 mk3? Thanks
Can i use in my reloop rmx 40 usb?
I love this guy!
azden louie . . if youre not rich, maybe get the pedal efx board units (digitech 2008 ish to save money!) . . zoom 2017 is cheap! but you only get one pedal control surface-with "twenty pedals you can control separately-and "at one time"-great for studio . . the digitech-style has four or five pedals separate to control live in real time!!!! . . the boss, ehx, mxr, maxon, etc can cost about $100-$200 idh a piece!-used!
Can I use any effect pedal with Pioneer DJM-250? (Not mk2)
Thanks for the video! My mixer is the DJM-S9 and has no send & return inputs/outputs. How would I best connect mono guitar effects in between? Pls let me know. Thanks in advance!
the delay pedal should be setted on bpm or milisecond?
Hi Ean I own a Boss rc-505 and I owned korg kp3 as well and i found them very bad for synchronizing through midi they got out of time easily i rather prefer sync them manually. If you found the way to sync them via midi make a video please...
Thoughts on using pedals and other FX with vinyl? With no BPM counter could be hard to get delay timing right 🤔
Seems like it won't be long before boss pedals are in the DJTT store.. Which came first, the partnership or the video?
DJTT is not a huge company. These pedals probably cost a lot of money. On the website they mention that boss sended some units for testing. You should be grateful they do these video's for DJ's and inspire us, instead of being butthurt about a brand
I love this!
Hi, could I ask what are the songs you play on the two middle decks at 9.55+ ? I'm looking for this melody for months and stil couldn't find it !
Really good work, thanks for the videos
I use a Boss DD-7 in my rig but when I connect it to the send and return of the 900, when I turn on the effects button and turn up the knob, the sound gets cut completely off and I can't get any sound to come out of the speakers. What do I do wrong? Please help!
I have the DD-7 and have a question, I have 2x trs 1/4 mono from the input a +b to my xone92 aux 1 r+l. Then I have the output a+b trs 1/4 mono to left right channel 4 in my xone. Is this the best way to get good quality?, when I put the aux1 up the background track is having less volume, is it correct that when I buy another 2 trs 1/4 to trs and put the 2 outs a+b from the pedal to the return that It will have better quality or no background music volume drop when turning open the aux1?.
Muy bueno, sabia que se podia hacer eso, pero no sabia con que modelo de pedal. Con algunos pedal de efectos se distorciona la salida de audio.
Amazing videoooo..learned a lot
you have a clipping after all sound conversions. the last pedal in this chain should be limiter
That and appropriate gain staging
just use xone db4 :) good video!
I love this video and am inspired to get a Boss delay pedal and reverb pedal to link up to the send and return on my Ecler. Just one question - with the daisy chaining off them, does the signal still pass through even if the pedal isn't engaged? So, say I have my reverb after the delay, can I add some reverb without adding delay? Thanks
Yes
Does it work on vinyl? Without affecting the volume too much?
nice video, can you answer my question, im hearing conflicting opinions- can I use a DD7 with my traktor s4 mk2 controller?
Would you put a compressor pedal effect on the maste track when producing?
how do you get the external ins and outs working on the mixer?????
can't find the arcade button petals in the garage sale part of the store :(
how to you set the X1 to have that EQ LED jump effect on the buttons? is that something only the mk1 had?
Is there not a device that combines all the effects from each pedal into one unit?
How did you map the level feedback from traktor to the kontrol x1 button leds?
im really considering buying the reverb pedal but i saw that there is rv5 and rv6... does anyone know which one is better? thanks :)
So what would happen if I ran one of the mono pedals into one of my main deck channels playing a stereo track? want to use the compressor but i don't use any mono sounds like remix decks.
+MATT UK (MattuK) get a stereo compressor, preferably line level, an actual studio compressor, not a guitar (or bass) one. Mono is mono - you will lose all stereo stuff, so 'left' 'right' samples or anything that you want to 'move' across the field in stereo is going to get lost. Now, if it was JUSt a bass kick and bassline playing, it would sound fine, since most of the bass sounds are mono. But as soon as you play anything stereo, it will be summed to dual mono / mono. Now, if you have say a record of two guitarists, one on the left and one of the right, they will be playing together on both speakers, and it may lead to clipping/saturation. Bad compression sounds horrible. Almost ALL the music made today is OVER COMPRESSED for the loudness wars already, so adding more is kind of cruddy. One thing people do use compressors for often is for their mix recording OUTPUT - the master out for the club, or for fixing up your mix after recording to make it more uniform level. Traktor has compressor/limiter WITHIN the software too, so this guy is running compressed music into a compressor on either each channel or the master output of traktor (potentially, you can turn it off), running into mixer, running into another compressor to further compress the sounds.. now, in a full mix recording, to run a LIGHT, decently done compressor over it (or in a club live on the master output) MAY make things sound louder/fuller more evenly. BUT, you are losing dynamics - breakdowns will sounds as loud as your drops. DYNAMICS are good people!! Loud vs soft!! Mogwai made a career off it. Classical music USES dyamics properly - there are SUPER quiet bits and SUPER loud bits. If everything's compressed it just becomes the same. Personally I prefer good gain structure while mixing and just normalise sections as required manually, if needed.. I'm always working to make my mixes sound as good as possible WITHOUT normalising or compressing after mixing and I think this ends up sounding better than if I just try to lean on software or hardware compressors during playback or after recording. A bit of compression somewhere can be really nice though and especially if you know how to use it and are a producer who doesn't already used it way too much to make a track and are now compressing that even more for your 'performance' of it in a DJ set... my 2 cents anyway. I should probably clarify, you are going to need to convert your cable from guitar pedal (or preamp/DI output if you do gain structure right and convert from guitar Hi-Z to line level for the input on your mixer) to mixer anyway (usually RCA if you are not using a send return channel and want to use a 'main' channel). SO you need a mono (TS jack guitar cable) connector on one end, that splits into two mono RCA (usual RCAs), so again your sound will be 'dual mono' instead of stereo. You'll get two channels, but not two DIFFERENT channels, so your speakers will both play exactly the same thing. The cable you'd need to run into an RCA input on a 'main' channel on a DJ mixer would be a guitar (TS) mono jack one end of the cable and two RCAs on the other end. If you had a 'stereo' effect, the cable would depend on whether the output was 2x TS outputs (like a 'stereo' guitar effect) or 1x or 2x TRS or XLR outputs (like a 'line level' professional/rack mount/DJ effects unit). If you have a guitar pedal with two TS (mono) outputs, you'd need a 2x TS to 2x RCA male cable. If you had 1x XLR or TRS output, you'd need to get a TRS or XLR to dual RCA male cable, if you had 2x XLR or TRS, you'd want a 2x XLR or TRS to dual RCA male cable.
I like it
Boss RC-3 how to beat matching？
How do you mod a pedal to get the arcade buttons on
The space sounding pedal sounds like the intro for Linkin Parks One Step Closer (the extended version).
ya, ehx or digitech or someone else-that has multi-pedals on one beard . . instead of one at a time! . . if you need more sounds-and you can afford it! . . get two or three used pedal efx boards to use at the same time!
Hey DJ tech tools, do you still sell these pedals ?
how i connect this to ableton live set using scarlett ????
awesome
Shweet shtuff how do u get a clean mix with out the really loud guitar pedal noise hum I'm getting (multiplied x 4 because I want 1 pedal/each 4 Channels)? Danka !
+ifya do so you are running say, a CDJ or other audio source into a pedal then into the mixer? the reason is because RCA 'consumer line' output of a CDJ, tape deck (or phono RCA of a turntable) is VERY LOW, it's like plugging a guitar into a speaker WITHOUT an amplifier. So your mixer PREAMPS on the inputs of the channels is pushing the level up from 'consumer line' (which is actually now converted to even weaker, I believe, 'hi-z' guitar level on the effect output) to 'proper' line (which is the loudest type of line). So you are *preamping* the very low signal from the effect, which has already been made worse converting from consumer line to hi-z. I'm not sure the answer to this, but the proper way to do it is to have a mixer with 8 channels and 4 aux sends, so you can send and return 4 channels through 4 different pedals. But better still is to figure out exactly WHY you want to put effects on those four INPUTS. Why not have something like a Xone 92, which will take any of four channels, and send it back into one or two other channels? You could just turn the volume down on the SENDING channels and keep the RETURN channels raised, so as long as the mixer 'pre' sends (ie, before the channel fader level takes effect) you will have the music coming through the return channels, while the sending channels cannot be heard (except through the returns). The best way to deal with a single output is to get a loop feedbacker, which is basically however many effects sends as you like, off the one source and ending up with only one output returning back. You can have one of these for each return channel on a send/return, or have them on the MASTER OUTPUT of the mixer if you want the effects to only work on the MASTER / summed output, as opposed to individual channels. Absolute easiest way to do it to is to use a laptop - have the sounds playing from the laptop (you could use Traktor, Serato or Ableton for 4 channels if have decent sound card/DVS card), each with software effects internally in the program (Ableton or other sequencer or something like Torq would do this easily - apart from potential stability issues with Torq), then running from the sound card output into your mixer/system (you dont really need a mixer if you are using controller or keyboard to control things inside the computer instead of with hardware). This sounds like what you want to do, but with hardware. Which in order to do properly, you'd need to convert the sound source level to guitar level first, then run it into guitar effect, then convert guitar effect to line level (personally, I use a guitar DI to get from guitar to mic level, then a mic preamp to get from mic to line to go back to mixer). Now, if none of that works (or really, you should try this first), you just need a) a better power supply for your guitar pedal (even Boss official vs generic 9v wall wart will make a difference, I have a Cioks Ciokolate but that is total overkill for one pedal - to test, try a battery instead of power supply, it should be clean with battery, if you have a bodgy power supply you will tell this way), a better cable (poor quality cable *may* give you some issues), a better guitar effect (some effects are just *noisy*), before trying another effect, you may want to try a ground isolator - I have an ART DTI for line level and another for guitar level, if you have a guitar effect that IS noisy and need to deal with it (a common issue with more than one pedal chained) you need something like the Boss Noise Supressor and/or an ISP Decimator/G-String to reduce the inherent noise of the pedals, if you have your cables crossed that can cause noise (power and audio sitting together) so try separating, lastly, if you want more options, there are noise gates, which will cut off all sound after things go to a certain quiet level (ie, when playing music the gate opens, when it stops and there is just a quieter noise left, it closes and stops all sound - ALL sound though, not great if doing quiet bits) as well as loop feedbackers, which are like an AB/Y splitter but multiplied - they basically just give you a button to press for effect loops, so when you are playing clean, instead of having to turn all the effects off manually, you just click a button and it goes back to 'clean' signal (no effects). Also with these you can get any size you want basically, so you can have 2, 3, 4 or more different effects loops to put pedals on to choose from / switch between, so you can have many options and ways to use the same pedal in different orders or with different settings, without having to change stuff on one pedal. There are many causes of noise in analog audio so it can be a bit of a process. I think trying to run a CD discman into a guitar pedal was probably what set me on this long journey almost two decades ago :)
I have a Boss DD-3 connected to a Pioneer DJM - 900NXS. Send from DJM going to Input on DD-3 (in Mono). Return into DJM from Output on DD - 3. The DD - 3 won't power up. When i reverse the signal path (input / output etc.) it powers up but obviously theres no signal. Can't get it to work. Can anyone help with setup????
Figured it out.. was using Stereo 1/4" cables not mono... duh..
I totally sampled the kick at 4.10
can you have more than 1 effect on at once? could get pretty intuitive with that.
yeah you can have as many on at onceaas you want
Would you recommend a multi effect pedal ? I mean, that is a lot of pedals to carry around ? or is it not worth it ?
I have seen some DJ's including Sid Wilson who've used multi effects pedals on their setup. So I'd imagine it would be a good idea.
Yep discard any boss pedals you may have purchased and replace em with EHX multi fx peds.
Thanks for the advise :)
Eventide H9 Harmonizer.
Can i add KAOSSILATOR PRo to djm 750 mk2 as conexion send and returd sound ?
Did the DJM 750 MK2 have a send/return? Because if so, yes. If not, no.
What's the name of the wild and weird pedal?
Hi is there a reason why you haven't featured a Boss RE-20 Space Echo Pedal? Just about to buy one so would appreciate your thoughts! Cheers
Probably because the video is 6 years old and the RE-20 was not out then.
does anyone know the name of that analog drum machine?
Why is not possible to see the MODIFIED PEDALS on the website ….?-(
+Francois Benner old video, would have sold em by now.. I am inspired by that though and sad they didn't get a test on the video. It really makes sense if you aren't stepping on them.. I hate how the foot switches get 'gunked up' or 'sticky'/hard to push sometimes too.
I'm no expert, but isn't he running low impedance signals from the mixer into pedals that require high impedance input? He should be using a converter, no?
thats why there are volume knobs on all the devices. does it sound shit, put that knob done. He should have in this video haha.
Should use a Re-amp box to convert the lo Z signals to Hi Z
does anyone know if you can use pedals on a z2 mixer?
Did I see an Arcade Button Mod on those TC Helicon lookin Pedals?? that would improve my looper pedal situation since i use my fingers to engage it.. any suggestions?
Suggestions... Get someone who knows about electronics and soldering to do it. :P
Hi Ean great video. I really like your setup but is it useful in a setup with controllers like the S4?
you wouldnt... maybe with an extra soundcard, wich i dont think is possible, and even if it is, it will definetly be a pain in the ass to setup
sousasamm Well you would have the s4 and the pedal hooked up to a mixer.
Man, I play guitar and bass and I have some effect pedals. Ihave got too a S4 and I tried to connect the pedals to the output of the s4, and then connect them to my soundcard and the speakers and it works.
Ibanez ES2
Behringer Echo Machine EM600
Jomox T-Resonator
Behringer Reverb Machine RV600
Zoom G3
has anybody had experience using the Boss DD 500?
Sponsored by Boss.
Boss was kind enough to send us pedals to test so we didn't have to spend thousands of dollars on this project but they didn't sponsor us in anyway. As mentioned in the article:
"We recognize that there are hundreds of guitar FX pedals in the world, and many companies (small and large) that provide excellent products. In the coming months, we intend to explore other brands and models, but Ean chose to focus primarily on Boss for this early research since they are prevalent, affordable, and provide a wide range of high-quality options."
This was an awesome video. I mess around with mixing analog and digital gear. Keep up the good work.
+Wayne Kerr don't say that, he's an amazing DJ
why would you have to spend thousands of dollars? I thought this is a technique you already do, so why not use the stuff you already own?
@@theycallmejpj Do you really think he uses that many pedals every set? I doubt it... He might have had 2-3 pedals, but not 8 hahahah
I want to have Echo and reverse effects come from my microphone can I use a puddle for that
No it would get wet. I'd suggest you try a pedal.
Anyone Know the song just before 10 minutes ?
that synth lol :D cool guide but complex :D
hello everybody I would like to ask if you know a pedal that makes a filter effect like Allen heath
Tnx
Hello guys. What i need to buy if i want to connect 5 pedals to xone92?
5 pedals and a xone 92.
Hi, I use the DD-7 in my dj sets and I love it. I find that I have to take the lows completely out on the channel levels before I use it though as the kick drums and basslines come through quite muffled and distorted. Is there any way around this? Loving the Echo Delay & Reverb too I may have to invest.
Cheers
I don't think there is. I intended to use some of my pedals with my synth but they make the low end disappear
Ean, is your USB splitter USB powered only? Can it handle 3 controllers OK? I thought it was bad for your computer.
Sadly I'm not Ean ( but who is :-D ) I noticed the hub as well. I'd wager that it is a basic USB2 hub hanging off a USB3 port on the MacBook. While not the ideal setup, USB3 ports are required to provide significantly more power than USB2 ports in addition to having vastly more bandwidth. Thus it is much less of a bad idea than connecting the same to an older USB2 port. You don't benefit from the increased bandwidth, but the extra power is what matters in this situation. (Geek Alert) I just checked the stats on my MBP and it reports up to 500 mA available per USB device. However, connect an iPad ( or probably one of several other Apple gadgets, and it reports using the full 500 mA PLUS a whopping 1.6 A on top. ( 1600 mA ) If Apple ( or a crafty third party ) made a hub that would activate this level of draw and passed it to the ports... who needs external power..? Before you thumbs down this overlong reply, I know these number don't match the official USB3 specs, but Apple has liked bending the rules for years. ---Woah, that was a lot. Sorry about that.
Great video as always. Any thoughts on doing one that includes the loop station? I'd love to see how it does when clock synced.
Tim Tucker That was really geeky) Thank you for such an informative comment! It is said on official NI Website that X1 and F1 take up to 500 mA. And it really worries me since I use 2 X1s and an F1 on a single USB3 of my MB Air with a powered hub. I know that (officially) USB3 provides 900 mA of power. I would have never thought that Apple modifies their USBs as well. I'll check whether or not what you have written works for me. It is very inconvenient to search for a power outlet wherever I set up but I am very afraid to burn the whole machine XD So I'll stick to using my powered hub until I make sure my laptop can handle this stuff.
A USB 2.0 hub can handle 3 basic controllers just fine (but never share a audio card on the same port) - I easily run 2 X1's and a Midi fighter off one $10 un-powered hub. Ean
DJ TechTools Thanks! Love DJTT
Audio experts talking about "headroom" and stuff fail at setting up their audio without clipping. meh.